Political momentums

Massimo D'ALEMA

President of FEPS

Massimo D'Alema was born in Rome, Italy, on 20 April 1949. He is married to Linda Giuva, and has two children: Giulia and Francesco.

He has a high school diploma in classical studies and studied Philosophy at the University of Pisa. He is a professional journalist and was Chief Editor of the daily newspaper "L'Unità" from 1988 to 1990.

Massimo D’Alema’s political activites began in 1963 when he joined the Italian Young Communists' Federation (Federazione Giovanile Comunista Italiana, FGCI). In 1975 he was elected General Secretary of the organization, and held that post until 1980. In 1986, Massimo D'Alema became a member of the Secretariat of the Italian Communist Party (Partito comunista italiano, PCI), and in 1987 was elected member of the Italian Parliament (Camera dei deputati). In 1989, he was actively engaged in the process which transformed the Italian Communist Party into the Democratic Party of the Left (Partito democratico della sinistra, PDS).

In 1992 Mr. D’Alema became President of the PDS parliamentary group in the Chamber of Deputies. He was re-elected MP both in 1994 and 1996. In July 1994 he was elected General Secretary of the PDS. On 5 February 1997 Massimo D'Alema was elected Chair of the parliamentary Committee on Constitutional reform; on 4 November 1997 the Committee submitted to the two Houses of Parliament a draft reform of Part II of the Italian Constitution.

On October 1998 Mr. D’Alema became Prime Minister of Italy. He was in office until April 2000. In December 2000 he was elected President of the Democrats of the Left (Democratici di sinistra, DS). In October 2003, at the 22nd Congress of the Socialist International in Sao Paulo, Brazil, he was elected Vice-President of the S.I. In June 2004 Mr D'Alema became a Member of the European Parliament, where he holds the position of Chair of the EP Delegation for relations between the EU and the Mercosur.

On 9 April 2006 he was elected MP for Apulia representing the Olive Tree coalition. On 17 May 2006 he was appointed deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary in the Prodi government. On 22 April 2008 he was elected MP for Apulia representing the Democratic Party (Partito democratico, PD).

He is currently a member of the Chamber of Deputies and since January 2010 he is the Chairman of COPASIR (Parliamentary Committee for the Security of the Republic), which is responsible for the Parliamentary control on intelligence services. He has also been the President of a political Foundation called "Fondazione di cultura politica Italianieuropei" since 2000.

Before the European Elections, Massimo D'Alema addresses the public attending the Leaders' debate of FEPS Event "A Progressive Renaissance for Europe" focus of the European parliament Elections and the Belgian national and regional elections.

"Plenty of words have been used to discuss the recent Ukrainian political developments, the massive protests that broke out in Kyiv, former President Yanukovych’s escape and his removal from power, and the annexation of Crimea by Russia. The crisis has been even described as the most dangerous confrontation between Russia and the Western countries since the end of the Cold War".

In his introductory speech, Massimo D’Alema, FEPS President took the stock of FEPS activities so far, aiming at bringing “renaissance” to the European project and pointing out the main directions in which this work should continue until the EP elections in 2014 and beyond.

Among the comments he made in a speech delivered at the PES Congress leaders Plenary Panels, Massimo D’Alema said: “The conservative interpretation of the European sovereign debt crisis as the supposed consequence of the Southern member states’ “fiscal incontinence” and the resulting austerity measures, have not only brought no economic benefits, but they have produced social suffering and fuelled financial, political and social tensions.”

Speech from the FEPS and Renner Institut Breakfast Meeting “Next Left: Lessons learnt, challenges to meet” which was held in Warsaw on 3rd December 2010 during the Council of the Party of European Socialists.

“The crucial problem lie within Europe itself. The temptation to resort to the renationalization of policies is sneaking around the continent. Exactly when the EU comes under pressure from global challenges in a highly competitive international system, the European governments’ instinct is to return to national decision-making” said President D’Alema in his speech to the conference of the British Labour Party in Manchester.

The President outlines his perspective on the challenges facing Europe and the role which he sees FEPS taking in the future. He reminded also during this inaugural speech to the FEPS General Assembly: "I have always been convinced of the importance of intellectual inquiry and I have always supported European integration in terms of policy, programme and vision for the future. Therefore, it is no coincidence that, over the past decade, I have been head of the Fondazione Italianieuropei, a cultural foundation of Italian citizens who identify equally with European citizenship".

FEPS President Massimo D'Alema speaks to the World Social Forum in Dakar on the impact of migration on EU-Africa relations and assesses the need for open debate in finding a progressive approach to this issue.